If you've lost your exercise/running mojo, come on in for a Christmas countdown .....

[lechatnoir]

I've not done any significant exercise for the past 9 months, have put on 1.5 stone, taken up smoking again after years away and feel like shit as a result plus add peri-menopausal symptoms Working from home , lack of money and general feeling of negativity everywhere hasn't helped and I'm sure I'm not alone.

In a fit of madness I signed up for a HM for next March but need a kick up the arse and a serious overhaul before I can even start to think about following a running plan. Ive got 7 weeks before I start training but think 8 weeks is more realistic and will also tie in nicely with the festive season (right now I just want to hibernate not party).

So aims are:
Get basic fitness levels up and gently resume running
Build some strength and flexibility
Stop smoking (day 3 and counting)
Include some proper self-care - early nights, hair colouring more regularly, just a bit of pampering occasionally.

Get back in the habit of regular exercise with some sort of weekly timetable.

Anyone want to join me and post for support, encouragement, ideas and give each other a proverbial kick up the arse along way?

Another lazy day here - working from home today and didn’t leave the house. But I did a 20 minute workout, got my 10k steps, and did my yoga, so I’m giving myself a smiley face on the calendar!

Thank you for that Londonmum, great way to look at it!

Woke up feeling unusually perky so decided today was the day to put a stake in the ground and extend my run to 7k, which just involves an extra lap of the lake. Pulled the pace back a bit but got round pretty comfortably at not far off my usual pace so happy with that. I’d like to get to a comfortable 10k in 60 mins run and do that a couple of times a week with a shorter run/ park run thrown in somewhere.

Well done, @illiterato !

17k steps and yoga here today. Rick is getting a day off.

Funny you should ask, I was watching this review yesterday!

I have a Garmin forerunner 45s- probably equivilent of the 55 now. No maps but it has GPS, records a good range of data and can be programmed with structured runs/ workouts which is handy.

32,005 steps today!
I've jeffed a half-marathon.
I will sleep well tonight!

@BogRollBOGOF - thank you - and well done on the half!

16k steps, one GFWR, and yoga ✅

Ugh- DD off sick so no run for me today unless I get out later later when DS gets home but it's so cold!!. Got to the gym yesterday and also did a couple of hours of heavy gardening - filling and moving tubs/ repotting a couple of big shrubs.

A gentle couple of days for me, some yoga and swimming.

I might run tomorrow, poorly child permitting. He's old enough to leave at home for a short time which makes life easier these days.

Managed a swim on Tuesday and had intended yesterday to be a rest day before a long run today. However DD needed to go back into hospital for a bit today so had to swap to a 12km Jeff. Did a loop so each repetition I increased the length of the run element which meant that it turned into a bit of an endurance session. Really didn't want to go out in the cold and dark this evening but was so glad I did.

WFH today because snow, so a slow day. 11k steps, a 25 minute YT workout, and some yoga.

16k steps and yoga today. Hope everyone is having a lovely Friday.

Been feeling a bit off colour so not managed much since a 5km on Tuesday nearly finished me off! TaKing tomorrow off but hoping I'm up for a run Sunday.
This week aside, my running is definitely improving in terms of distance but it still feels so bloody hard and I can't seem to get my head around the weight loss side of things even though I know lagging extra weight is a big factor.

@lechatnoir - well done on the 5k - why don't you try Jeffing 7 and see how you go? Try say 90 seconds running 30 seconds walking - you may well find it is faster than a straight run and that you can go further as it is gentler on you

That's what I've been doing to gently build up my distance following injury. I'm far less tired than I am from constant running. I normally snuck spontaneous walk breaks in anyway so it's just more structured.

@lechatnoir - sorry I hadn't clocked that you were Jeffing anyway - yes its ideal for building up after injury - my physio recommended it and I've not looked back....

2 swims and 3 gym sessions this week. On the strength side I felt good but the cardio was a bit of a struggle. I’ve had a cough for a few weeks
now that I think I need to see the GP about.

@londonmummy1966 I have a Garmin Venu (the square one). I like it, it doesn’t have maps but does have GPS so you can see your route afterwards. You can also load programmes onto it - including one led by Jeff himself! Mine also allows me to add music/podcasts so I don’t have to bring the phone out to listen to stuff. I don’t think the Venu is the most high-spec Garmin out there but it’s good for me, and an accessible price point.

@FlySwimmer - thank you I'm eyeing up the Forerunner 955 but am wondering if I can justify the cost when a 255 would do everything except the maps.

Rest day today (with a lovely lunch and wreath making session at one of my neighbours). I am inclined to get a second rest day in tomorrow (rather than a swim) on the grounds that I've just had my hair dyed and then hit the longest run I've ever done on Monday.

30 minute body combat workout today (ooft), 14k steps, and yoga.

@londonmummy1966 Given the length of your runs I can see how maps would be useful. Even when I was running (I’m recovering from a fracture) I never ran so far as to need them

@FlySwimmer - except that running in London usually means there are lots of maps on the bike racks and bus stops to show you where you are and if I head out of town its usually along the Thames path where its quite hard to get lost!! Decisions.....

@londonmummy1966 Enjoy researching it! And have fun with it, whichever one you get - I like looking at all the stats…

Today I think I’ll do some yoga, but might otherwise take it easy. Back to the gym tomorrow.

Just checking in at the last minute! 12k steps, yoga, plus another body combat workout today.

Managed a couple of miles on Saturday during kids football club. Felt quite unwell Sunday and still not 100% today so won't be running (plus there's snow everywhere!). WFH all this week due to train strikes so hopefully can get out tomorrow morning after school drop off